Unions offer Bristol works advice on redundancy

Trade unions are offering advice to workers on surviving the economic downturn.

The TUC, an umbrella group of Britain's trade unions, has produced two new booklets – Coping with the Economic Downturn and Facing Redundancy.

It also has updated information about redundancies, how to use JobCentre Plus, how to look for a new job, and what training and benefits people are entitled to.

Facing Redundancy is the newest addition to the TUC's Know Your Rights series of leaflets and can be downloaded from the internet or ordered for free.

People can also pick up a copy through their union if you are a member or from TUC head offices in Filton.

The booklet contains a guide to the law on redundancy, redundancy pay, employers' duties to consult and to select the person being made redundant in a fair and open manner.

It also provides information on how to claim Job Seeker's Allowance.

Coping with the Economic Downturn is co-written by the TUC and Citizens Advice and tackles issues including: what to do if you are faced with redundancy; making sure you claim the right benefits; dealing with debt and rising prices; accessing work, skills and training; and a section on where to turn for further help and advice.

The TUC's world of work website www.worksmart.org.uk but also contains questions and answers on all aspects of redundancy.

The advice comes as the downturn has hit the Bristol area hard in recent months.

Jobs have been lost with the closure of Woolworths and other shops, such as children's clothes store Adams.

Even jobs at high street giant Marks and Spencer were looking shaky yesterday.

And with manufacturing also struggling, it makes the advice from the TUC particularly timely.

Nigel Costley, regional secretary of the South West TUC in Bristol, said: "With unemployment due to exceed two million and possibly hit three, more than 1,500 people a week are losing their jobs. Many will be facing redundancy and unemployment for the first time in their lives.

"But these are not the only victims of recession. Many others are losing pay as they lose overtime or face lay-offs.

"Millions more fear unemployment as benefits set at levels designed to deter 'scroungers' are way below what most people need to pay back debts and meet regular out goings.

"All these are reasons why now, more than ever, people should consider joining a union.

"Unions are experts at handling the threat of redundancy, and can often win the argument for alternatives or at least negotiate a package better than the legal minimum.

"But these guides make union advice on redundancy available to all, and we are delighted to have produced a wider guide with Citizens Advice on dealing with the downturn that combines union expertise on redundancy with CAB expertise on debt, benefits and consumer issues."

Citizens Advice head of communications Nigel Shattock said: "The current credit crunch, rising food and fuel costs and the increasing likeliness of recession are resulting in more people needing help and advice from the CAB service over money, benefits, employment, mortgage and redundancy problems.

"This leaflet is an excellent sign-posting and self-help tool for those who are worried about their employment prospects, at risk of redundancy or have recently lost their jobs."